Fawn pulled from manhole near Converse Heights

Published: Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 8:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 8:26 p.m.

Spartanburg Animal Services officers got a surprise Thursday morning when they looked into a manhole near Connecticut Avenue and Woodburn Lane and saw the liquid brown eyes of a fawn gazing back at them.

A Spartanburg Water crew first found the little deer, a buck, in the storm drain about 9 a.m. A water supervisor stopped by the Spartanburg Public Safety Department to tell them about it, and animal officers Mike Johnson and Jessica Lancaster responded.

The fawn, which weighed about 40 pounds, was curled up on some concrete inside the drain, although he was surrounded by water. He was calm as officers looped two snares around him and pulled him out of the hole. He then sprang into action, kicking and flailing, until the officers were able to tie both pairs of legs, to keep him from further injuring himself or his rescuers.

The deer had scrapes to the bone around his hocks but no bones were broken, Maj. Steve Lamb said.

Spartanburg Animal Services is known for handling dogs and cats, but the officers also see their share of wild animals as well, such as hawks and owl and deer.

“This was the first fawn though,” Johnson said. “And last week, we had a hawk with a broken wing, in a yard on South Church Street. Most people don’t get to see wild animals like that but we’re able to work hands-on with them.”

Officials aren’t sure how the manhole cover was removed, but it could have come off during mowing, Johnson said.

The fawn was taken to the Spartanburg Humane Society and then to HealthPointe Veterinary Clinic in Duncan. Lead vet technician Amy Gappa said the clinic doesn’t accept wild animals, but she is a contact for Wildlife Rehab of Greenville, an all volunteer nonprofit group that has the proper licensing and training to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild animals.

The fawn will receive some anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics, and he should make a full recovery, Gappa said. He was already up and walking on his own shortly after his rescue.

Connie Hall of Wildlife Rehab said the fawn is about 5 months old, about the time she typically releases orphaned fawns back to the wild. Once he is healed, which should take 2 to 4 weeks, he’ll be released.

Hall, who is licensed through the state to rehabilitate deer, said she takes in 10 to 20 fawns a year, often younger than the one found in Spartanburg. Many people mistakenly remove young fawns from their fields, thinking they’re orphans, when the mother has only left the baby to graze for several hours.

“I tell people, unless the fawns have flies on them or are injured, to leave them alone,” Hall said.

To learn more about Spartanburg Animal Services, visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/spartanburganimalservices.

For more on Wildlife Rehab of Greenville and find out what to do if you find an injured or orphaned wild animal, go to www.wildlife-rehab.com.

<p>Spartanburg Animal Services officers got a surprise Thursday morning when they looked into a manhole near Connecticut Avenue and Woodburn Lane and saw the liquid brown eyes of a fawn gazing back at them.</p><p>A Spartanburg Water crew first found the little deer, a buck, in the storm drain about 9 a.m. A water supervisor stopped by the Spartanburg Public Safety Department to tell them about it, and animal officers Mike Johnson and Jessica Lancaster responded.</p><p>The fawn, which weighed about 40 pounds, was curled up on some concrete inside the drain, although he was surrounded by water. He was calm as officers looped two snares around him and pulled him out of the hole. He then sprang into action, kicking and flailing, until the officers were able to tie both pairs of legs, to keep him from further injuring himself or his rescuers.</p><p>The deer had scrapes to the bone around his hocks but no bones were broken, Maj. Steve Lamb said.</p><p>Spartanburg Animal Services is known for handling dogs and cats, but the officers also see their share of wild animals as well, such as hawks and owl and deer.</p><p>“This was the first fawn though,” Johnson said. “And last week, we had a hawk with a broken wing, in a yard on South Church Street. Most people don't get to see wild animals like that but we're able to work hands-on with them.”</p><p>Officials aren't sure how the manhole cover was removed, but it could have come off during mowing, Johnson said.</p><p>The fawn was taken to the Spartanburg Humane Society and then to HealthPointe Veterinary Clinic in Duncan. Lead vet technician Amy Gappa said the clinic doesn't accept wild animals, but she is a contact for Wildlife Rehab of Greenville, an all volunteer nonprofit group that has the proper licensing and training to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wild animals.</p><p>The fawn will receive some anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics, and he should make a full recovery, Gappa said. He was already up and walking on his own shortly after his rescue.</p><p>Connie Hall of Wildlife Rehab said the fawn is about 5 months old, about the time she typically releases orphaned fawns back to the wild. Once he is healed, which should take 2 to 4 weeks, he'll be released.</p><p>“He's really calm right now,” Hall said. “But he won't get tame. He's already too old. He's doing really good.”</p><p>Hall, who is licensed through the state to rehabilitate deer, said she takes in 10 to 20 fawns a year, often younger than the one found in Spartanburg. Many people mistakenly remove young fawns from their fields, thinking they're orphans, when the mother has only left the baby to graze for several hours.</p><p>“I tell people, unless the fawns have flies on them or are injured, to leave them alone,” Hall said.</p><p>To learn more about Spartanburg Animal Services, visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/spartanburganimalservices.</p><p>For more on Wildlife Rehab of Greenville and find out what to do if you find an injured or orphaned wild animal, go to www.wildlife-rehab.com.</p>